Major Art Styles of the 18th and 19th Centuries Essay

Major Art Styles of the 18th and 19th Centuries - Essay ExampleCupid a Captive, as with most fancy paintings, appeals to our sense of escapism with the offer of a playful romp with delicate indulgence.In the late 18th century artists began to remove the fanciful trappings of fancy and saw a return to a more formal style of painting referred to as Neoclassicism. In Jacques-Louis Davids Oath of the Horatii, we are presented with a more hardened subject with brighter colors and more contrast. Neoclassicism is typified by straight lines, confidence in the mechanical structure, and a willingness to elevate its subjects to the standards of high ideals. Davids painting depicts classic subjects in conflict, that posed in its portrayal of balance and symmetry that is indicative of the Neoclassic period. Art from this period is often a reflection of allegiance to authority as mirrored from the society that produced it.The early 19th century was highlighted by the Romantic style of art. It embraced the notion of a relaxed state guided by feelings of romance and love. The interment of Atala painted by Girodet-Trioson, shows the more personal viewpoint of emotions as it appeals to our sense of love and tragedy. The romantic treatment given this painting shows in the artists use of born(p) lighting on subjects that are struggling against their own helplessness.